Fluid-operated pumping device with hydraulic lift



March 7, 1950 c. .Lv coBERLY r FLUID-OPERATED PUMPING DEVICE wm! HYDRAULIC LIFT 2 sheds-snee; 1

Filed July 28, 1945 e 7745 Fler! ATroENEs/ March 7, 1950 c. J. coBr-:RLY

FLUID-OPERATED PUMPING DEVICE WITH'HYDRAULIC LIFT Filed July 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOQ Clase-MCE J. Cossem/ el ,Me-cfg snfe zfs im u...

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 FLUID-OPERATED PUMPING DEVICE WITH HYDRAULIC LIFT Clarence J. Coberly, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Kobe, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation o! California Application July 28, 1945, Serial No. 607,524 20 Ulaims. (Cl. 10B-46) My invention relates to the well pumping art. and more particularly to a duid-operated well pumping device adapted to alternatively pump oil from any one or more of a plurality of producing well strata in a well, as desired.

The invention is of particular utility in the oil industry in the production of oil wells and is particularly useful in combination with a fluidoperated well pump, and, consequently, it will be described in connection therewith, although it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of otherluses and I do not intend to be limited to the speciiic embodiment disclosed and described herein.

Oil wells commonly include several independent strata from which oil may be produced. Usually when an oil well is drilled, it is intended to produce from a particular known stratum, although frequently there are other shallower producing strata in the well but of less desirable characteristics. For example, the shallower strata may `be of low productibility, or the oil therefrom may be of inferior quality. Consequently, it is the usual practice to produce from the most desirable stratum until such time as it becomes uneconomical and then to close off such stratum and produce from an upper stratum of the wall. Sometimes the oil from several strata is allowed to flow into and mix in the well, and the mixture is produced by pumping or otherwise. Such practices are often undesirable, and it is a primary object of my present invention to provide an apparatus by which several well strata may be separately but alternatively produced, preferably by pumping therefrom, so that the relative production from the several strata may be governed and controlled, as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus including a pump set in a vertically movable tubing, so that when the tubing is in one vertical position its inlet will communicate with one of the production strata, and when the tubing is in another vertical position the pump inlet will communicate with another of the production strata of the well.

Another object of my invention is to provide such an apparatus in which several strata in a well may be produced in timed sequence by the provision of an automatic control system for automatically changing the well production from one producing stratum to another.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a tubing in a well, preferably adapted to house a well pump, which is vertically movable by a novel type of hydraulic jack which I prefer to include as an integral part of the tubing head. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specication and the draw- 2 ings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly view showing my invention installed in a well;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the well equipment of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, continuing downwardly from the lower end thereof, showing a fluid-operated pump set in a production tubing;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, continuing downwardly from the lower end thereof, showing the lower end of my apparatus with the production tubing in its upper operating position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the lower end of my apparatus with the production tubing in its lower operating position; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig 4.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an oil well Iii having a casing i I set therein in the customary manner, the casing having perforations l2 disposed to register with an upper producing well stratum A and having perforations I2a therein adapted to register with a lower producing well stratum B. At the upper end of the casing II is provided a casing head I3 through which a production tubing I4 extends downwardly into the well, passing through a well packer I5. Valve means I6 and timing means I'l are provided, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Referring to Fig. 2, the casing head I3 includes a lower flange member I9 threaded to the upper end of the casing Il and to which is removably secured, as by bolts 20, an upper flange member 2l. Secured to and extending upwardly from the upper ange member 2| is an outer tubular element 22 provided with a. iiuid inlet 23, the upper end thereof being externally threaded to receive an annular nut 25 forming a packing gland to compress an annular packing 26 against an internal end ring 21 welded or otherwise rigidly secured in the upper'end of the outer tubular element 22.

As will be noted, the production tubing Il passes through a suitable opening in the upper flange member 2l of the casing head I3, and a iiuid sealing means 28 is provided to form a seal between the production tubing and the upper iiange member. The fluid sealing mean-s 28 in cludes a retaining ring 29 which retains an annular packing member 30 which in turn is suitably compressed by a packing gland nut 3| threaded into the upper end of the retaining ring. Secured to the production tubing I4 below the upper flange member 2l, as by welding or other wise, is a stop ring 32.

Threaded to the upper end of the production tubing Il is a collar 34 of substantially greater diameter than the production tubing and from which depends an inner tubular member 35 which telescopes into the outer tubular member 22 and is sealed relative thereto by the annular packing 26 which engages both members. Threaded into the collar 34 is a tubing head 36 provided with a discharge nipple 31, the upper end 38 of the tubing head closing the same and forming a fluidtight seal around a supply tubing 39 extending downwardly therethrough.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of the production tubing I4 is suitably secured to a seating collar 4I having a conical pump seat 42 formed therein adapted to receive a tapered seating element 43 formed on the lower end of a fluid-operated pumping means 44 disposed in the production tubing. The fluid-operated pumping means 44 is of any type well known ln the art and includes an inlet 45 communicating through the seating collar 4I with a tubular bull plug 46 secured to the seating collar. The fluid-operated pumping means 44 is also provided with discharge ports 41 communicating with the interior of the production ltubing I4 above the pump seat 42, and the supply tubing 39 is connected to the upper end of the fluid-operated pumping means and is adapted to supply actuating fluid under pressure A thereto to operate the same.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bull plug 46 extends downwardly through the well packer I5. The well packer I may be of any type well known in the art, a standard form being shown in the drawings, and hence will not be described in detail. In general, the well packer l5 is removably secured to the casing II by means of slips 49 and 50 and is provided with rubber or other resilient packing rings 5I and 52 to form a sliding fluid seal with the bull plug 46, the latter being vertically movable in the well relativeto the well packer while retaining the sealing action. The bull plug 46 is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 53 which form an inlet means for the bull plug.

As shown in Fig. 1, connected to the upper end of the supply tubing 39. as by an inlet nipple 55, is a supply line 56, preferably formed of flexible material, as is well known in the art. Similarly connected to the discharge nipple 31 is a production line 51 which is also preferably formed of flexible material. The supply line 56 is intended to be connected to a suitable source of actuating fluid under high pressure, such as suitable surface pumping equipment (not shown) asis well known in the art, and the production line 51 is intended to lead to a suitable disposal point (not shown), as is also well known in the art.

Connected to the fluid inlet 23 of the outer tubular member 22 is a control tubing 56, which branches into a low pressure tubing 59 connected to the production line 51 and a high pressure tubing 66 which is connected to the supply line 56. The valve means I6 includes a first control valve 62 provided in the low pressure tubing 59 and a second control valve 63 provided in the high pressure tubing 60. the control valves preferably being of the fluid-actuated diaphragm type, well known in the art, the control valve 62 being actuated by fluid pressure supplied through piping 64 from a master valve 65, the mastervalve 65 alternatively supplying fluid pressure to the second control valve 63 through piping 66. The master valve 65 is supplied with pressure fluid through a supply pipe 61 and is adapted to alternatively open and close the control valves 62 and 63 by the supply of pressure fluid thereto. The

timing means I1 comprises a timing mechanism 69, such as a clock mechanism or the like as is well known in the art, which is operatively connected to the master valve 65 by suitable mechanism, such as a pivoted actuating arm 10. The timing means I1 may be omitted if desired, although it is of particular value in many well installations.

In operation, actuating fluid under relatively high pressure is supplied through the supply line 56 to the upper end of the supply tubing 39, the actuating fluid flowing downwardly through the latter to the fluid-operated pump means 44 to actuate the same. The fluid-operated pump means 44 draws well fluid from the bull plug 46 and pumps the same upwardly through the production tubing I4, the discharge being carried through the production line 51 to a point of' disposal or storage.

With the device in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the slots 53 of the bull plug 46 are disposed above the well packer I5 so that Well fluid in the casing iI above the well packer I5 may flow into the bull plug 46 and be pumped to the surface of the ground by means of the fluid-operated pumping Ameans 44. The well packer I5, as noted, separates the casing into an upper zone 1I communicating through the perforations I2 with the upper producing well stratum A, and a lower zone 12 communicating through the perforations I2a with the lower producing well stratum B. Thus the production flow from the Well strata A and B is maintained separate by the packer I5, and the same can be separately produced. When the device is in such producing position, the master valve 65 is set so as to open the second control valve 63 and close the first control valve 62, thus permitting actuating fluid under high pressure to flow from the supply line 56 through the high pressure tubing 60, the control tubing 58, the fluid inlet 23, and into the annular space 13 between the outer tubular elenient 22 and the production tubing I4. Since the diameter of the collar 34 is substantially greater than that of the production tubing I4, pressure fluid in the annular space 13 maintains a lifting pressure on the collar 34, and consequently on the production tubing I4, sufficient to maintain the productiontubing I4 in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, in which the slots 53 of the bull plug 46 are disposed above the well packer I5.

When it is desired to stop production from the well stratum A and to commence production from the Well stratum B, the master valve 65 is actuated to open the first control valve 62 and close the second control valve 63, thus permittng actuating fluid under pressure confined in the annular space 'I3 to exhaust through the control tubing 58 and the low pressure tubing 59 into the production line 51. Upon release of the fluid pressure from the annular space 13, the production tubing will move downwardly by gravity until the lower end of the inner tubular member 35 engages the upper end of the retaining ring 2l upon which the production tubing is then supported. In such position, the slots 53 of the bull plug 46 are disposed below the well packer I5, as is shown in Fig. 5. In this position, as will be evident, well fluid from the lower producing well stratum B can flow into the casing I I through the ,l

perforations I2a and into the bull plug 46 through the slots 53, and thence can be pumped tothe surface of the ground by means of the fluid-operadmit actuating iiuid under high pressure to the annular space `13. the production tubing I4 and theuid-operated pumping means 4I contained therein are again raised to the position shown in FigsnZ, 3; and 4, in which pumping may be resumed from the upper producing well stratum A, the` stop ring 32 limiting upward movement of the production tubing. It will thus be apparent that either producing well stratum A or B may be pumped as desired by manipulation of the master valve E5. I prefer to include the timing means I 1,however, in conjunction with the master valve V65,sothat the master valve 'may be actuated periodically upon a desired schedule. For example, it-may be desirable to alternatively pump each of the well producing strata A and B for a xed interval of one hour each, and the timing means l1 may readily be adjusted to accomplish this purpose, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

From the foregoing description it will be clear the `bull plug 46 having the openings 53, in conjunction with the bore through the well` packer l5, isin effect a selector valve means for effecting communication between the pump inlet and either well zone.

VAlthough I have shown and described a preferred` embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that certain parts and elements there-l of are merely representative of other parts and elements which may be substituted therefor with out :departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and

consequently I do not intend to be limited to the specific form disclosed, but desire to be afforded the full scope of the following claims.

I'iclaim as my invention:

1."In a fluid-operated well pumping device, the combination of packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum` so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicatingwith said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said well; iluidoperated pumping means in said production tubing having a pump inlet in said production tubing and adapted to pump well iiuid upwardly through said production tubing; and means for alternately opening communication between said pump inlet and either said upper or said lower well zone as desired, including timing means for automaticallyalternately opening rsaid communications in timed relationship.

2. In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; a well pump adapted to be introduced into the well and having a pump inlet adapted to alternatively communicate with either said upper or said lower zone; and means for alternatively opening communication between said ,pump inlet and either said upper or said lower well `zone as desired, including timing means for automatically alternately opening said communications in timed relationship.

3. In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said packer means and having an inlet port adapted to be alternatively positioned above said packer means to communicate with said upperwell zone or below said packer means to communicate with said lower well zone in response to vertical movement, of said production tubing; pumping means in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well uid upwardly through said production tubing; and means for moving said production tubing vertically relative tb said packer means to connect said inlet port with said upper and lower well zones alternatively,

4. In a uuid-operated well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set ina well between an upper and a lower producing with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said packer means and having an inlet port adapted to be alternatively positioned above said packer means to com municate with said upper well zone or below said packer means to communicate with said lower well zone in response to vertical movement of said production tubing, said production tubing having a pump seat therein above said inlet port; fluidoperated pumping means seated on said pump seat in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well iiuid upwardly through said production tubing; and means for moving said. production tubing vertically relative Dto said packer means to connect said inlet port with said upper and lower well zones alternatively.`

5. In a well pumping device, the combination of packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said packer means and having an inlet port adapted to be alternatively positioned above said packer means to communicate with said upper well zone or below said packer means to communicate with said lower well zone in response to vertical movement of said production tubing; pumping means-in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well fluid upwardly through said production tubing; and hydraulic jack means for moving said production tubing vertically relative to said packer means to connect said inlet port with said upper and lower well zones alternatively.

6. In a well apparatus, the combination of a casing set in a well; a casing head secured to the upper end of said casing, said casing head being provided with an upwardly extending tubular member defining a pressure zone; an outer production tubing within said casing and extending upwardly through said casing head and said tubular member; piston means secured to the upper end of said outer tubing and extending into said tubular member so as to provide a pressure area of greater diameter than said outer tubing exposedto the fluid pressure in said pressure zone; sealing means between said piston means and said tubular member for forming a iluid seal therebetween: means for introducing fluid under pressure into said pressure zone so as to exert a lift'- ing force on said pressure area of said piston means to raise said outer tubing relative to said casing; and duid-operated pumping means in the lower portion of said outer tubing and vertically movable therewith.

7. In a fluid-operated well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communieating with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly into said well and -having an inlet port adapted to be placed in iluid communication with either of said zones in response to relative movement between said production tubing and said packer means; fluidoperated pumping means in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port, and adapted to pump well fluid upwardly through said production tubing; power tubing extending downwardly into said well and connected to said pumping means to supply operating uid thereto; and means for vertically moving one of said tubings relative to the other to open communication between said inlet port and either said upper or said lower well zone as desired.

8. In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said packer means and having an inlet port adapted to be moved upwardly relative to said packer means to communicate with said upper Well zone or downwardly relative to said packer means to communicate with said lower well zone in response to vertical movement of said production tubing; pumping means in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communieating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well fluid upwardly through said production tubing; and means for moving `said production tubing vertically relative to said packer means to connect said inlet port with said upper and lower Well zones alternatively. 4

9. In a well pumping device, the combinationfof packer means adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; a production tubing extending downwardly through said packer means and having an .inlet port adapted to be moved upwardly relasecured relative to such a casing head; piston `means extending into said cylinder, said piston means including a tubular member extending downwardly through said cylinder and said base member and adapted to be connected to an outer tubing having its peripheral wall contiguous to the inner wall of said casing, said tubular member being of smaller diameter than said cylinder so as to provide a pressure zone therebetween; a pressure inlet opening communicating with the interior of said pressure zone below said piston means; and a discharge member secured to and communicating with the interior of said tubular memberand adapted to conduct fluid passing thereinto from said outer tubing into a suitable receptacle.

11. In a well apparatus, the combination of:

` a base member adapted to be rigidly secured relative to said packer means to communicate with said upper well rone or downwardly relative to said packer means to communicate with said lower well zone in response to vertical movement of said production tubing; fluid-operated pumping means in said production tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well fluid upwardlv through said production tubing; and means for moving said production tubing vertically relative to said packer means to connect said inlet port with sai'l upper and lower well zones alternatively.

10. In a well apparatus, the combination of: a base member adapted to be rigidly secured relative to a well casing head; a cylinder carried by said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to be axially alignedwith a casing in the well when said base member is tive to a well casing head; a cylinder carried by said base menber andy extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to be axially aligned with a casing in the well when said base member is secured relative to such a casing head; piston means extending into said cylinder, said piston means including a tubular member extending downwardly through said cylinder and said base member and adapted to be connected to an outer tubing having its peripheral wall contiguous to the inner wall of said casing, said tubular member being of smaller diameter than said cylinder so as to provide a pressure zone therebetween; a pressure inlet opening communicating with the interior of said pressure zone below said piston means; a discharge member secured to and` communicating with the interior of said tubular member and adapted to conduct iluid passing thereinto from said outer tubing into a suitable receptacle; and means for supplying fluid under pressure through said inlet opening so as to raise said piston means relative to said cylinder.

12. In a well apparatus.- the combination of: a base member adapted to be rigidly secured relative to a well casing head; a cylinder carried by said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to be axially aligned with a casing in the well when said base member is secured relative to such a casing head; piston means extending into said cylinder, said piston means including a tubular member extending downwardly through said cylinder and said base member and adapted to be connected to an outer tubing having its peripheral wall contiguous to the inner wall of said casing, said tubular member being of smaller diameter than said cylinder so as to provide a pressure zone therebetween; a pressure inlet opening communicating with the interior of said pressure zone below said piston means; a discharge member secured to and communicating with the interior of said tubular member land adapted to conduct Iluid passing theremto from said outer tubing into a suitable receptacle; and time-controlled valve means connected to said pressure inlet opening for supplying iiuid under pressure through said inlet opening intermittently in timed sequence so as to raise said piston means relative to said cylinder.

13. In a well pumping device, the combination of: an outer tubing: an inner tubing within said outer tubing providing a space therebetween; packer means in said space and dividing the same into an upper well zone adapted to communicate wth an upper well producing stratum and a lower well lzone adapted to'communicate with a lower well producing stratum, said packer means being stationary with respect to one of said tubings; an

inlet port in said inner tubing, said port being` adapted to communicate with either of said zones in response to relative vertical movement b etween said tubings; pumping means in said inner tubing and having a pump inlet communicating with said inlet port and adapted to pump well ilud upwardly through said inner tubing; and means for causing vertical movement of one of said tubings relative to the other so as to open communication between said inlet port and either of said zones.

14. In a well pumping device, the combination of packer means :adapted to be set in a well between an upper and a lower producing well stratum so as to separate the well into an upper well zone communicating with said upper stratum and a lower well zone communicating with said lower stratum; pumping means associated with said packer means and having a pump inlet, said pumping means being adapted to pump well liquid upwardly through said well; and means for opening communication between said pump inlet and either of said zones selectively, including means for moving said pumping means relative to said packer means.

15. In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between upper and lower well-fluid producing strata thereof to separate the well into upper and lower zones respectively communicating with said upper and lower producing strata; pumping means adapted to be set in the well and having an inlet, said pumping means being adapted to pump well fluid from said inlet upwardly in the well to the surface; selector valve means disposed adjacent said packer means for selectively connecting said inlet in fluid communication with said zones of the well: and fluid-operated means operatively connected to said selector valve means for actuating said selector valve means.

16 In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between upper and lower well-fluid-producing strata thereof to separate the well into upper and lower zones respectively communicating with said upper and lower producing strata; pumping means associated with said packer means and having an inlet, said pumpingmeans being adapted to pump well uid from said inlet upwardly in the well to the surface; selector valve means for selectively connecting said inlet in iluid communication with said zones of the well: and fluidoperated means for actuating said selector valve means, said fluid-operated means including a piston connected to said selector valve means and means for applying fluid pressure to said piston.

17. In a duid-operated well pumping device. the combination of packer means set in a well between upper and lower well-fluid producing strata thereof and separating the well into upper and lower zones respectively communicating with said upper and lower producing strata; power and production tubing means set in the well and respectively adapted to convey operating uid under pressure downwardly into the well and fluid upwardly therefrom: fluid-operated pumping means disposed in the well and provided with an intake for operating fluid under pressure. an inlet for well fluid, and an outlet, said intake communicating with said power tubing means to admit operating uid under pressure into said pumping means to operate it, and said outlet communicating with said production tubing y means to .discharge iluid from said pumping means into said production tubing means; se-

lector valve means adjacent said packer means for providing iiuid communication between said inlet and said upper and lower zones selectively; and means for actuating said selector valve means.

18. In a fluid-operated well pumping device, the combination of: packer means set in a well between upper and lower well-iluid-produoing strata thereof and separating the well into upper and lower zones respectively communicating with said upper and lower producing strata; power and production tubings set in the Well and respectively adapted to convey operating iluid under pressure downwardly into the well and fluid upwardly therefrom, at least one of said tubings being movable vertically in the well; fluid-operated pumping means disposed in .the well and provided with an intake port for operating iiuid under pressure, an inlet' port for well fluid, and a discharge port,

said intake port communicating with said power tubing to admit operating fluid under pressure into said pumping means to operate it, and said discharge port communicating with said production tubing to discharge fluid from said pumping means into said production tubing; selector v-alve means movable vertically in the well to provide fluid communication between said inlet port and said upper and lower zones selectively, said selector valve means being operatively connected to said one tubing so as to be movable vertically therewith; and means connected to said one tubing for moving said one tubing and said selector valve means vertically.

19. A well pumping device as defined in claim 18, wherein said pumping means is carried by said one tubing.

20. In a well pumping device, the combination of: packer means adapted to be set in a well between upper and lower well-iluid-produclng strata thereof to separate the well into upper and lower zones respectively communicating with said upper and lower .producing strata; pumping means adapted to be set in the well and having an inlet, said pumping means being adapted to `pump well fluid from said inlet upwardly in the well to the surface; selector valve means disposed adiacent said packer means for selectively connecting said inlet in fluid communication with said zones of the well: and operating means extending from the surface of the ground downwardlv through the well and operatively connected to said selector valve means for operating 'the same.-said operating means being operable from the surface of the ground while said pumping means is in the well. l

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

